New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
SOME NEW NOVELS.
LATEST WORK BY ENGLISH AND AMERICAN
WRITER'S.

MARGARET JERMINE BY PAIR MADoc' Crown
Rvo, PIP. 1911. Macmillan u Co.
TOWARDS THE GULF. A Romance Of Louisiana
I6mo pp 3l5. HarTer Brothers.
THE BOW OF ORANGE RIBBON. A Romance OF
New-York. BY AMELIA L. BARR l6mo. PIP. 44o
Dodd. Moad Il Co.
BANKER or BANSERsvIIL.gg, . Novel r. By
THE K sE iomo pp sh c.
THE WORLD WENT VERY WELL THEN; BY WALTER
BEsANT. Harper's Franklin Square Library
TAKEN BY SIEGE. 16mo. PIP. 29i. Philadelphia: j.
Il. Uppincott Go.
MoHAwKs. By Miss NJ. L. BRADDoS Harpers Frank
lin Square Library.
BETWEEN TWO LOVES. Tale of the West Riding.
BY AMELIA L. BARR 16mo, PIP 49, harper "
Brothers
PASTOR CAREw. MILLIONAIRE AND MIsER. by
Mrs f. LYNN LINTON Harpers Franklin Square IL
brary
The story of s Margaret Jermine" is curious
compound of tragedy and comedy. IN winch d
sombre plot is developed, with exu6erant humor'
10 a very painful conclusion. The contrast
between subject and method reminds us OF the
wake of tho Shaughraun to which captain
Nfolvnenx refer. as these melancholy festivities
The father of Margaret Jermine, distracted by the
death of his wife, gives up tue rest OF his years 10
The composition ola philosophical treatise on
GTbe Erroneousness of Love-" and resolves 70
educate the child In stern accordance Win MS
theories Natural emotions are to be suppressed
Tho affections in particular must be conquered
Marriage ~ to be regarded as the sum OF all evils
Peace and quiet mind are to be iouhu IN the
passionless exercises Of cultivated intellect and
she contamination Of natural scenery. But
Margaret happens to be a girl of exceptionally
a0ectiouate disposition. The utmost ingenuity OF
q half-crazy father and an odious governess cannot
snbdue her craving to be loved. Rigor at homo
only throws her back upon surreptitlous intimaces
with boy playmate and with the men at tue
stable. The account Of Mr.. Jermines cruel ois-
cipline is pathetic; but it is enlivened oy nighiy
comc narratives of Margaret's escapades. and
viyacious dialogue in which the young Iadvs
vigorous use of the slang of hosters and schooboYe
keeps rs in almost continuous laughter. lou
see" she remarks in explaining why she ran on 10
the stable instead of doing her beastly old sums.
bri Ting with eight times seven, "You see'
Benoley's downright good 'un, and he's taught me
10 ride, and he says never funk. MitchePs an old
idiot She took and squeaked when she saw me
riding without NV habit And Velvetne's fear
fpl Nuisance Crikey how waxy she does get but
the groom is discharge Henry goes away 10 schoo
Every association which calls into exercise the
emotional side of Margarets nature is broken OF.
She reaches :womanhood, highly educated
ACCOMPLISHED, clear minded, restrained, ana Win
her capacity for passionate fet ling only inten'ned
nv lony repressiou She is fully aware of the
even to argue forcibly against it; yet Jermlne'
before his death, exacts from her a promise to
follow his inunctions, and by fidelity to this
rledge she wrecks another life besides her OVID. IL
NAV be objected that woman like Margaret OF
strong character. strong impulse and strong sense
xvon,d NOT have bound herself to the philosorh'c
vacq res of father who had never been her iriehu
or companion but then the whole situation
violates probability Jermine is an unnatural
invention; and Margaret herself develops periec-
ton of demeanor and self-control for which her
early training. destitute as 1t Is OF al Wo'a
influences gives no warrant Here however the
novelist must be allowed the ordinary license OF the
craft TO carry out fauclful subject with consider
able Independence. When we leave Margarets
youth and pass to the second part OF the Story
which deals with her mature experiences t"e
authors spirit does not hag The story Is carrleu
On principally by dialogue and we are thrown lnto
a rather large and various company OF people, VINO
exhibit many amusing traits q d are involved III
by-play of love, intrigue. politics and reform. lie
sketcbes of society in an English country neghbor
hood are very bright, the types OF character are
distinct. the con versaton is sparkling and mucn
off xittv Margaret becomes a pleasant picture
when she pour, upon children her 'ent-up ncod
If affection-so pleasant that do not quite lose
. patiepce with her even when she taxes TO writing
PAMPHLETS on corsets and the care oil the stou acn
and making public speeches on the higher poiitl0s'
The subject ofa Towards the Gulf Is the
marriage of An aristocratio young planter with a
beautiful woman who proves to be oil mlxeo race
She il rot aware of the negro blood in her VEINS
and does not suspect the cause of her husoands
increasnp melancholy and anxiety, until the secret
which he has discovered by series OF accioents Is
revealed to her by old servant. Then she
commits suicide; and her son, in whom the negro
cbaracterstics are more dstinct,than in herself Is
killed by an accident. The story is t'ld with
great deal of skill and many touches OF Just seht
ment Whether 1t be assumed that the distress Vi
John Norapt Is well i'll founded his state OF
feeling. as we'll as that Of the wife. Is skiiiuliv
analvzed and accessory incidents are artfully used
to heighten the effect of the tragcai situation
The sketches of society and manners In New
Orleans of life on river plantation aiIer INC war;
AZ negro pee uliarties ETC., are slight out suiAihe
and tine book Is distinguished throughout ny
delicacy of ztone. Its defect is that It proposes
problem without suggesting possible answer All u
,ven for An individual misfortune which lies IN the
dread of an imagined future rather than III any
.ctnal evil it has no remedy but violent death
Ths ending therefore 10 unsatisfactory aud il
shows not only weakness of purpose but weakness
in constructive ART
aTbe Bow of Orange Ribbon" is one OF The
prettiest stories we have read this inter. Inc
sceue is laid principally in New-Yors city during
the last years of colonial dependence and most o.
the characters belong to the sturdy, well-to-dt
Dutch population, who retained 10 the MI ist OIL
English associations their national customs thel
national temperament, and \ strong hIvor OF thei
national speech. We have charming picture o.
their domestic life-the comfort. thrift and order
of those decorous homes in which honest simplicity
Joined han,s with much substantial elegance. th'
busy days of the careful housew life and the indus
trious daughters. the plain but gentle man ner'
which adorned the intercourse OF families boun'
toyether bv affection and conf ience. The love